Brenda Zulu
Freelance journalist


The issues of good governance cannot be discussed in isolation but together with other factors that help in the achievement of a society that promotes democratic principles.

The advent of the Information Society characterised by the prevalence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are impacting every facet of people’s daily lives. One clear upshot of this is that knowledge forms a critical component of production and development. The deployment of innovative mix of both old and new telecommunication regimes offer opportunities for appropriate strategies to accelerate Africa’s development.

Zambia’s report to the third meeting of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Committee on Development Information shows the country readiness for the Information Society.

E-governance is a tool for governments to use new technologies to provide people with more convenient access to government information and services, to improve quality of service and provide opportunities to participate in democratic institutions and processes of governing a nation. It also provides opportunities to move forward in the 21st century with high quality, cost effective government services delivery and the creation of better relationships between the people and government.

Zambia presently is in the process of formulating a national policy on ICT to foster and guide the use of ICTs for development in the country; however in the absence of ICT policy, ICTs are regulated by the Zambia’s Telecommunication Act of 1994.

The Zambia Telecommunication Company Limited (ZAMTEL), which administers Public Service Telecommunication Network (PSTN) in Zambia, was established in 1994 through an Act of parliament. This followed a separation of the postal and telecommunications services under the postal and telecommunications Corporation.

The Country has three cellular service providers. Zamtel providers a analogue telephone system based on the Advanced Mobile Phones Services (AMPS) technology with an installed subscriber base of 10,000 but currently the entire exchange network is undergoing digitalisation in preparation for the introduction of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) while TELECEL and CELTEL provide a GSM system with a combined subscriber base of about 139,092.

In 1994, Zambia became the first country in Sub Sahara Africa (Outside South Africa) to have full Internet access. The first ISP, the University of Zambia owns ZAMNET. The Communications Authority has since licensed five others. These are Coppernet, Microlink, UUNET, Zamtel and Celtel. The number of combined subscriber base is currently 11647 and is expected to increase tremendously in the next two years.

Following the return to multiparty politics in 1991, the Government embarked on various policy reforms and initiatives, all aimed at harnessing the full potential of the ICT revolution. Among these has been the liberalisation and deregulation of the telecommunication sector, the liberalisation of the airwaves and formation of the Communication Authority, which regulates the telecommunication sector.

The government has instituted a National Technical Committee comprising experts from government and the private sector. The committee commenced its work in November ’02 under the following terms:

* To provide guidelines and supervise the preparation of an ICT policy framework, policy itself, and strategies.
* To give input to the pilot project, initiate and undertake ongoing evaluation.
* To work out programmes to facilitate the creation of a digital society through ICT infrastructure, education and training, and human resources development as primary focus in ICT policy development; and
* To organise a national forum for the discussion and validation of the draft policy document.

The vision of government is to make ICT the engine for economic growth and social economic development in Zambia. It has been recognised that the association between telecommunications and the wholesale changes brought about in the global social-economic system as a result of the information society has rendered credence of the following:

* Economic growth is directly linked to levels of telecommunications and digital infrastructure,
* The intangibility of the information resource levels the playing field for corporation, governments and communities around the world
* A “new economy” has emerged that in fundamental ways supplants what went on before; in this economy, information means money
* Information flows have “opened” otherwise closed or insular countries and that this opening has further prospects of democracy in these politics; and
* Developing countries must get on the information highway or they soon will fall by the wayside of the digital divide.

Information and governance
The issues of good governance cannot be discussed in isolation but together with other factors that help in the achievement of a society that promotes democratic principles. One such element is the provision of timely, relevant and reliable statistics that enhance informed and accurate decision making, at Government, community and private sector levels. Policy reforms aimed at democratisation must use population statistics that ensure equal representation in our national political system. Policy reforms on economic liberalisation must include the use of statistics on vulnerable groups such as women, children, the disabled and the elderly etc., who must be cushioned from the adverse effects of economic reforms.

One area that directly illustrates the link between statistics and good governance is that of the Populations Census and how it relates to issues of the electoral system. Firstly, any electoral victory for any political party depends on the numbers and also the population distribution. The census is one of the few statistical systems that provide data at sub-district level and therefore has spatial implications for governance.

On the other hand, the electoral system also depends on the demarcations for governments of constituency and wards levels, as the case is Zambia. One of the challenges in Zambia has been the harmonisation of statistical data for the decision making process that is guided by existing statistical frame for data collection and the electoral demarcations of constituencies and wards. Politicians at both ward and constituency levels need statistical indicators that support them in advocacy activities and in resource mobilisation.

The current production of statistical data and indicators at both constituency and ward levels has provided a tool for politicians and civil society to advocate for a system of resources allocations that takes into account statistical representations. For example, the Zambian situation has seen increased demand from politicians and civil society for statistical information that is representative of local communities and the population Census is probably the only reliable system that is able to provide data to lower level. This has exerted great pressure on the ability of the national statistical system to provide at that lower level.


The development of ICT in Zambia has created great challenges on how statistical information is collected, processed and disseminated. Apart from the increased use of Local Area Networks in statistical operations, there is currently great need to expand such networks to enable remote regional data from various sources.

The approval of decentralisation policy by cabinet in 2003 has brought challenges for regional statistical offices to provide statistical data for local area planning in line with the Transitional National Development Plans. In Zambia, the Central Statistical Office (CSO), is in the process of developing a Wider Area Network that enables remote regional statistical office access data and other national development initiatives.

In 2002 the CSO engaged services of consultants to help develop a 5-year strategic plan to improve the operations of the office. This strategic Plan was designed for the Zambia National Statistical System focusing on the central statistical office to halt the decline in provision of official statistical system and service capable of meeting the information needs for poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP), the TNDP, and other national development initiatives.

Government has approved the establishment of National Remote sensing centre to coordinate in the application of GIS/remote sensing in Zambia. Remote sensing technologies are some of the tools that have been used in Zambia for sometime now. The Zambia Association for Geographical Information Systems (ZAGIS) has been spearheading activities in this area.

Development and dissemination of geo-information is important for any country’s economic development and growth. This is because well-developed geo-information infrastructure helps in high-level decision-making. It is a process that should be supported by National governments as well as and global bodies.

In Zambia we have a forum of core network stakeholders in the development of national standard for digital topographic databases as part of the national spatial database infrastructure development. This is the Environmental Information Network and Monitoring System forum that is composed of Zambia survey Department, Forestry Department, Zambia Wildlife Authority, Mine safety Department, soil survey unit (Ministry of Agriculture and cooperatives), Ministry of local government and housing, Lusaka city council and central statistical office. This forum is very strategic in the development and dissemination of geo-information. With long-term financial support from governments and cooperating partners the forum can transform the current under developed geo-information scenario in Zambia to an advanced and well-managed geo-information powerhouse in the region.

The survey department is currently compiling the digital topographic database at scale 1:50 000 and 1:100 000 with the ambition of covering the whole country. About 150 map sheets were compiled with the financial and consultancy support from the Environmental Support Programme (ESP) of the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources and Swede Survey Department’s daily core activities. This brings the total number to 220 sheets out of 826 sheets of 26% of the whole country coverage.

With 26% of the work done, capacity has been built in Zambia Survey Department, which now only requires to be fully improved, by way of financial support from government and other cooperating partners, to the level where it could speed up the process of developing spatial database for contribution towards the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. This is an opportunity that needs to be exploited if an efficient NSDI is to become a reality in Zambia.

Zambia is among the first countries in Southern and Central Africa to host a continuous GPS tracking station connecting to the IGS International points. This station is in Lusaka. However, there are plans to establish two more stations at Ndola and Mongu when equipment and other auxiliary resources permit. The Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources has been implementing the ESP. One of the components has been developing information systems focusing on addressing, deforestation, poor water and sanitation, land degradation (desertification), industrial air pollution (mainly from mining activities), and wildlife depletion.

The Zambia Meteorological department is currently executing a project called RANET. RANET is an acronym for Radio and Internet. It involves the use of a small digital radio (world space receiver) operating on “L” band and capable of accessing the Internet signal to receive data and information in rural settlements, and transmitting the same messages in local languages to improve infrastructure of delivering weather and climate data and information, as well as other developmental information to rural communities.

Media and ICTs in Zambia
The Internet is accessible from Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA) resource centre, British Council Library and cyber cafés. Most of the media institutions have Internet facilities which journalists do not even have access to. Internet facilities are only accessible to editors and IT people who have to update the website.

Many media institutions do not even have digital cameras, televisions, telephones lines and Internet access. Many urban journalists however have their own mobile telephones.

Government Media is not an exception. The situation is even worse in rural areas where journalists have to depend on the telefax to send a story where applicable or read on the phone line as applies to the situation. The infrastructure in the rural areas is not developed, thus making it difficult for the media to operate effectively.

Civil society and ICTs
Most NGOs, just like media organisations, have limited access to ICTs. The concept has been welcomed but the implementation is still remaining. Civil society, however, has even introduced IT sections in their organisations.

Gender issues regarding ICTs
The use of ICT enables more information to be found, retrieved and disseminated faster than ever before. Yet women often find themselves at a disadvantage. Whether through ‘technophobe’, a perception that computers and other technology are for men only, or through finance, women are often unable to take advantage of the ICT revolution. This includes women communicators, information officers, community liaison officers and women journalists.

Furthermore, women are still outnumbered by men in the majority of the media houses in Africa, with the result that they feel less confident and less influential than their male colleagues. There is need for women to develop new skills and knowledge about the use of ICTs and to apply these to the task of reporting more effectively about development of ICTs in Africa. ICT research and publishing skills need to supported and expanded in order to promote access to dissemination of information. In Zambia there is also need for women to explore ways in which they can have access to ICTs.

Conclusion
There are drawbacks in how governments have paid lip service to the development of technology. While many of them created regulatory bodies, put in place legislation and requested technical assistance towards the development of ICTs, these steps remain but a charade. In most cases, the setting up of regulatory bodies is simply done to fulfil donor conditions. No follow up is made to ensure the harmonisation of these new entities with already existing structure. Despite the high demand for Internet services, African governments seem keen on clinging to monopolies As a result cost remains prohibitive for the majority of the rural populations. Why is that in Europe and America where the per capita income average is at least 20 times higher than the African average, Internet services are more affordable than they are in Africa? African governments need to facilitate the acquisition of information and technology among their people, and in doing so, empower them to participate in the process. Without assessed information and communication needs for African populations, Africa’s dream to participate in the global information economy could remain elusive. This underlines the importance of collaboration and the sharing of best practices at national, regional and international levels.

The first step in empowering people in Africa in the age of new communication technologies is helping people achieve more technology literacy, so that they can use technology to help themselves. This can definitely be done because Africa’s best resources are the people.

LUSAKA, 19 July 2007 (IRIN) - Civil society fears that the imminent introduction of legislation aimed at regulating non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will severely compromise their work and independence, and could even result in their operations being closed down.

The NGOs bill, introduced this week in parliament by justice minister George Kunda, calls for "the registration and co-ordination of NGOs - [and] to regulate the work, and the area of work of NGOs operating in Zambia".

If the bill becomes law it would empower the interior minister to form a 10-member board, comprised of government members and two representatives from civil society, which would "receive, discuss and approve the code of conduct [of NGOs], and ... provide policy guidelines to NGOs for harmonising their activities to the national development plan of Zambia".

''We believe that this is a very sad moment in the life of Zambia's civil society.
The bill is dictatorial and seeks to constrain and limit the space for civil society''
Civil society leaders and human rights activists told IRIN the new law was a ploy by government to silence their critics and erode the role of civil society.

"We believe that this is a very sad moment in the life of Zambia's civil society. The bill is dictatorial and seeks to constrain and limit the space for civil society in the country," said Lee Habasonda, executive director of the Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes [SACCORD], a human rights and good governance watchdog.

"This sends very wrong signals and threatens the existence of NGOs, in that if the board is to be directly under the Minister of Home Affairs, then it means this same board will be de-registering, at will, any NGO whose style the government does not like."

NGOs are registered by the Registrar of Societies, a quasi-government organisation, but after registration the government has little power to restrain NGOs from voicing political dissent, and any attempt to de-register an NGO usually involves long court battles. In the proposed bill, NGOs will be obliged to register annually.

Court battles

SACCORD was de-registered by the government last year, only to have its NGO status reinstated by the court. It is once more embroiled in a legal battle after the government deregistered it again this year, but this time the court has allowed it to retain its NGO status until the outcome of the legal action.

"They [government] have been failing to put an end to our activism or existence, because there was no legal basis for de-registering us for holding dissenting views [from the government]," Habasonda said.

"This bill reduces the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of association; it reduces the efficacy of NGOs, because if they can't effectively criticise the state, then it means democracy is losing ground and dictatorship is now creeping in."

This is the first attempt by the Zambian government to regulate civil society since the onset of multiparty democracy 16 years ago, when Kenneth Kaunda, president since Zambia's independence from Britain in 1964, was unseated in 1991 by former trade unionist Frederick Chiluba.

Zambian civil society has been a strong force for change: it was pivotal in forcing Kaunda to abandon one-party rule and adopt multiparty democracy; helped block Chiluba's bid for a third term of office in 2001; and, during the tenure of current president Levy Mwanawasa, has maintained pressure for the adoption of a new constitution.

Emily Sikazwe, director of the Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Committee [NGOCC], an umbrella body for civic organisations involved in gender issues, said the proposed legislation would negatively affect the rights of women and children.

''The immediate impact is that the women's movement, and NGOs who have championed the cause of women and children - where the government has not been faring well - will certainly be de-registered''
"The immediate impact is that the women's movement, and NGOs who have championed the cause of women and children - where the government has not been faring well - will certainly be de-registered," Sikazwe told IRIN.

"We know for a fact who they are targeting with this new legislation, but we reject it with the contempt it deserves. Democracy has come to stay in Zambia, and we won't allow anyone to sit on critical issues that are important to the country."

Matyola Malawo, executive secretary of the Zambia Council for Social Development, a coalition of NGOs working for upliftment, said the bill was not good for the country because "it doesn't seek to harmonise the contributions of NGOs to national development."

He added that "NGOs were not consulted in its formation and, when we tried to access it, we were all told that parliament would decide on behalf of the people. If this law goes through, there will be a lot of mismanagement of public funds, because no one will speak for fear of being de-registered."

Chief government spokesperson and information minister Mike Mulongoti said the bill was designed to make civil society more responsible and accountable in their conduct. "We have democracy to safeguard. We must all stand on one platform - NGOs should not just be asking government to be transparent or accountable to the people, they should also do the same.

"This is why we have decided, as government, to introduce this new law: it's necessary to have a legal framework to regulate their conduct, because some of them seem to have been set up specifically to oppose the government in everything," he commented.

"They [NGOs] want to have a free-for-all atmosphere, when they themselves want government to be accountable. We must stand on the same platform: they should also be held accountable for their conduct and expenditure. After all, even the money they use to fund their activities is taxpayers' money elsewhere, just like we use Zambian taxpayers' money."

Zambian NGOs are not funded by the government but source their funding from mainly Western donors.

By Brenda Nglazi Zulu

20 July 2007

Many initiatives have been undertaken, mostly by civil society organisations, towards the bridging of the digital divide between the north and the south. The pressing concerns have been on the ability of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to improve the standards of living of the poor in societies.

If harnessed and directed properly, ICTs have the potential to improve aspects of our social, economic and cultural life. Appropriate technology for Zambia is not just a desire but also a real need. Among Zambia’s greatest challenge today are poverty and HIV/AIDS. In addition to this challenge we are faced with a language challenge which hampers communication. Given that 73 languages are spoken in Zambia, could the country not develop a technology that contributes towards narrowing the linguistic gap? These challenges can be seen as opportunities to make a difference, rather than liabilities to marginalise Zambia.

All stakeholders have a leading role to play in the Information society, especially through partnerships. The conference observed that the government had a leading role in developing and implementing comprehensive, forward looking and sustainable national e-strategies.

The commitment of civil society was important in creating an equitable civil society and in implementing ICT related initiatives for development.

ICTs can thus serve as an engine for development in the New Millennium and help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The conference was a unique opportunity for all key players to develop a shared vision of solutions and tools to bridge the digital divide and create a global society.

Government also took this unique opportunity to launch the first draft national ICT policy.

There are draw backs in how governments in Africa have paid lip service to the development of technology. Although many of these governments have created regulatory bodies, put in place legislation and requested for technical assistance towards the development of information and communication technology, all these steps remain but a charade.

More often than not, the setting up of regulatory bodies is simply done to fulfill donor conditions. There is no follow up afterwards to ensure the harmonisation of these new entities with already exiting structures.

Despite the high demand for Internet services, the Zambian government seems keen on clinging onto monopolies as opposed to inviting more internet service providers. As a result cost remains prohibitive for the majority of the rural populations.

There is an urgent need to depoliticise issues that affect national development. The provision of information in Zambia needs to be facilitated by the acquisition of information and technology tools for the people, and in so doing empower them to fully participate in the global information technology process. The onus here really lies with the government in their structuring of a policy that is all inclusive and will take into consideration submissions from all stakeholders. There is also need for publicity of the draft ICT policy on government’s part to ensure participation from all.

Drawing from past experiences, important submissions from civil society and other stakeholders will not be taken into full consideration by the government. And when there are no contributions, the government will ask why, it is this kind of trend that brings out the apathy in people especially when something looks like it is only for the benefit of a few in the upper circles of society. Government needs to understand that when it involves the masses on larger a scale and appreciate their contributions, the people will be interested and involved and thus policies made will be a true reflection of the peoples needs towards improving their living standards.

The first step in empowering people in the age of new communication technologies is to help them achieve more technological literacy, so that they can use technology to help themselves and to help them make meaningful contributions on ICT issues that affect their livlihoods. The best resource in the world is the human resource, if we keep this in mind then we are heading for progress.

Having been working on Open Source Software issues etc, I am now preparing to attend the Second IDLELO Conference on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) to be held at the Nairobi Safari Park Hotel in Kenya from the 23rd to 25th February 2006 and the Africa Source II event to be held Kalangala, Uganda from January 08 to january 15th 2006.

IDLELO 2 is being held under the auspices of The Free Software & Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) in Collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD. The first IDLELO Conference which attracted over 250 delegates was held in January 2004 in Cape Town, South Africa. IDLELO is a Zulu word for a common grazing ground.

The objectives of IDLELO 2 are: Stimulate a local FOSS Software Industry in Africa by the end of the Conference and Bring together Practioners, Decision Makers and FOSS Software Developers to learn how FOSS works.

The target audience for IDLELO2 is Key Decision/ Policy Makers in African Governments with emphasis on The Central Government/E-Government Teams, Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Health, FOSSFA/GNU Linux User Groups National Leaders and Leading FOSS Industry players from the Private Sector.


Africa Source II will be an eight day hands-on workshop aimed at building the technical skills of those working with and within NGOs on the continent. It will take place in one of the most beautiful parts of the Kalangala Island on Victoria Lake during the beginning of January 2006.

Africa Source II is being held under the auspices of The Association for Progressive Communication APC (regional network), Fantsuam Foundation (Nigeria), Schoolnet Africa (regional network), Translate.org.za (South Africa), WOUGNET (Uganda), Creative Commons South Africa, Aspiration (US) and The Tactical Technology Collective (the Netherlands. The event shall focus on how technology, in particular Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) can be integrated into the project work of NGO's. Over a hundred NGO Support Professionals and NGO Staff working at the local level across the region are expected at this meeting. Together with a handful of field leaders from Africa, Europe, North America and Asia, they will explore how technology can best serve the non-profit sector in Africa both in terms of access and content.

This event is building on the previous Africa Source event (Namibia, March 2004), which brought together African FOSS developers working in the social sector. Africa Source II will, in contrast work, at a different level, concentrating on bringing together those working with NGOs and technology at the practitioner and intermediary level. Participants should have experience working with computers and the internet and a project or initiative planned in the future incorporating technology for the non-profit sector. They do not, however, have to be technical experts.

For details check http://www.tacticaltech.org/africasource2

By Shalala Oliver Sepiso,
Executive Director,
Rescue Mission Zambia

“The new technologies that are changing our world are not a panacea or a magic bullet. But they are without doubt enormously powerful tools for development. They create jobs. They are transforming education, healthcare, commerce, politics and more. They can help in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and even contribute to peace and security.”
(Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General, November 2001)

Is technology helpful in the work of non-governmental organizations? Is Free and Open Source Software better than Licensed software? While many familiar with NGOs know the answers to the two questions, for others, the answers are not obvious. For this reason, we Zambians have taken it upon ourselves to provide free technical consultations to NGOs that provide social services as a way of consolidating the Zambian NGO sector through the support of partners such as OSISA and Ungana-Afrika through the Zambian eRiding Project which is being administered by NGOCC in partnership with Rescue Mission Zambia and other NGOs.

CHALLENGES

Just after independence in 1964, Zambia had a positive development trend with growth based on copper and some progress in basic social services. Unfortunately, since the seventies this has changed dramatically. Almost all poverty indicators are in regression, and there is evidence that poverty is worsening. Zambia is defined a least developed country and is ranked 153 out of 173 countries in the UNDP 2002 Human Development Index (HDI). Life expectancy is 41.4 years and the GDP is USD 780 compared to USD 1,389 in 1976 (per capita PPP). From 1990 to 2000, the HDI value dropped from 0.468 to 0.433. UNDP's 2002 report also states that 63.6 per cent of the population lives below one USD per day whereas 87.4 per cent has less than two USD per day. While the government has many programmes addressing these problems, Non-Governmental Organisations in Zambia are handling a bulk of these problems and they need capacity-building to deliver effectively.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) present Zambia with a vehicle for leapfrogging the development process. ICTs enable people to do things better and faster than has been possible before. Through technology, Zambia can achieve rapid industrialization, economic development and progress. When properly harnessed, ICTs can result in greater efficiency and optimum utilization of time and resources.

In Zambia, it is true that most nonprofit organizations need all the help they can get, be it from consultants, volunteers, or funders. In Zambia like most of the developing world, where NGOs often provide basic services that the government doesn't provide, supporting these organizations is often even more critical.

eRiding (known as "circuit riding" in the U.S.) can play an important role in the developing world. By using eRiders, technology consultants skilled in nonprofit issues, organizations can efficiently spread technological knowledge to areas where it is most needed. This technological expertise can help organizations use resources more efficiently to better serve their missions and perform their important work.

eRiders are consultants who work with nonprofit organizations. An eRider is a computer expert, trainer, management consultant, and communications strategist all rolled into one. Defined differently, eRiders are roving technology consultants who work on a one-to-one basis with a group of related non-governmental organizations (NGOs), helping each organization to develop and implement an information and communications technology (ICT) strategy tailored to its unique aims, needs, and context. The eRider's primary aims are to help organizations:
* Understand the potential value of ICTs,
* Integrate ICTs into their programmatic work, and
* Enhance the ICT component of their management.

An effective eRider must be more than just a good techie. While technical knowledge is important, it is only one aspect of an eRider's work. An eRider also needs an understanding of organizations' fundraising, program development, and relationship management. Someone who is only a techie would have a hard time helping an organization with its financial systems, for example. Without any experience with project management, to give another example, it would be difficult for an eRider to help an organization with its project management needs. A techie may just come to fix a problem and leave. But an eRider provides advice on how to improve things at the organization -- often giving advice on issues that go beyond computers.

Further, apart from management and administration problems, organizations in Zambia face communication problems and indeed technological problems. The eRiding project shall look at addressing these problems. The following common needs have been noted by eRiding projects elsewhere and are true to the Zambian scenario:
• Lack of awareness. Most organisations are not aware of technology solutions or information resources that can provide increased efficiency, cost savings or other operational benefits to their work even where they exist. They are also unaware of productivity advantages offered by tools they already have.
• Lack of infrastructure. Most of the organisations do not have adequate technology infrastructure in place, and do not know how to acquire/budget for it. Often the current hardware and software is outdated or not operational.
• No budgeting for technology. Most of these organisations do not budget or fund raise for technology in advance, which means that technology expenditure becomes an unpleasant surprise, taking money away from other core areas.
• Lack of capacity. The employees and volunteers of the organisations do not have the capacity to use the technology available. Those with basic computer skills do not optimally use them due to lack of relevant training and support.
• Lack of quality reporting. All organisations need to be responsible to government, donors or other stakeholders, and a major component of this is compiling periodic reports of their operations. These reports are generally done by hand, and become a great administrative burden. Often the data communicated is inaccurate and of limited value.
• Reactive rather than proactive approach to technology. There is usually very little strategic, mission-focused analysis of what technology is needed and how future objectives and strategy factor into current decisions. In addition, related technology needs such as training and maintenance are often ignored, which results in many unforeseen expenses.

BACKGROUND

A number of Zambians active in the ICT sector first came to learnt about the ‘eRiding Concept’ in 2003 at the “ICTs in African Schools Workshop” in 2003 in Botswana where OSISA distributed its publication in which was an article on eRiding and Ungana-Afrika. However, the concept was officially introduced to Zambia in 2005 during the OSISA ICT Zambia NGO Review, Project Development and Capacity-Building Workshop held in Lusaka, Zambia between 5th and 7th April, 2005. The Workshop, spearheaded by Mr. Ashraf Patel, was hosted by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) in partnership with SchoolNet Africa (SNA), Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC), Rescue Mission Zambia (RMZ), Computer Aid International (CAI), Consumer Institute of Southern Africa (CISA), Ungana-Afrika (UA), Community Education Computer Society (CECS) and others. The workshop’s objectives were, to:
• Provide a platform to debate issues around ICTs in Zambia;
• Collectively look at the challenges facing NGOs and CBOs involved in ICT;
• Share best practices amongst organizations supported by OSISA; and
• Explore partnership development opportunities.

Ungana-Afrika, through Mr. Lukwesa Chipepa, made a presentation to the workshop on eRiding as a concept and how it can be applied to support the NGO sector in Zambia based on experiences of Ungana-Afrika in South Africa and Southern Africa. The presentation make it clear that Ungana-Afrika wanted to help Zambia by initiating an e-Rider program starting with Project Design, Strategy and Setup, Project Implementation and Human Resources, e-Rider training, mentorship period, Ongoing Support and Workshops and training, high-level partnerships. For that reason, Ungana-Afrika was looking for local partners who were interested in launching an e-Riding program and these could be NGO Umbrella Organisations, Existing non-profit focused ICT organizations, ICT Training organizations etc. The presentations suggested the holding of a workshop later in the year that would look into Creating e-Rider support programs in Zambia and Sustaining and scaling up these e-Rider support programs.

After the presentation, a group discussion on eRiding followed. The group realised that there was a need for Zambia to join the e-Riding movement and hence need for setting up an e-Rider model for Zambia for ICT civil society to be more effective in our work and help achieve our goals. In order for a model or network for e-Riding in Zambia to be a reality, the group came up with suggestions for the way forward:
• A number of organisations volunteered to be pilot projects for e-Riding in Zambia and these included NGOCC, Zambia Civic Education Association and YWCA.
• An interim committee for setting up the e-Riding network was proposed and this included NGOCC, Zambia Civic Education Association, e-Brain, YWCA, Rescue Mission Zambia and the Ministry of Commerce.
• The group endorsed the idea of holding a workshop in Zambia at which Ungana-Afrika would come and spearhead the setting up of an e-Riding network in Zambia. This workshop would be in June 2005.

The Ungana-Afrika eRiding Incubation Workshop for Zambia became a reality and it was held in Lusaka, Zambia between 12th and 13th July, 2005 at Commonwealth Youth Programme Africa Centre in the University of Zambia grounds. The Workshop was hosted by the Ungana-Afrika in partnership with Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and Rescue Mission Zambia (RMZ). Participants came from organisations that either provided services or consumed services in the ICT sector such as Computers for Zambian Schools (CFZS), e-Brain Forum of Zambia, PACT Zambia and many more. The workshop focused on the internationally proven eRiding model of non-profit support and capacity building. With this model, training, planning and support efforts can be efficiently mobilized over a group of organisations, and within a wide variety of development contexts. This helps non-profit leaders build technology capacity building programs within their communities.

Presentations were made by Mr. Tshepo Thlaku and the incubation workshop gave a brief overview of the history of eRiding and how it works in an NGO context and how eRiding fits in with ICT4D/Capacity-Building efforts and the Millennium Development Goals. It then looked at the different environments that work with eRiding and how an eRider can fit into these different environments. After this, it looked into the various stages of an eRiding project and briefly touched on issues related to project length, costs and funding.

The workshop continued with how technology could help NGOs. It looked at matching NGO needs to the services that eRiders could provide. Further it touched on outcomes that could be expected at different stages of an eRiding project. Finally it looked at technology budgeting and technology plans and policies. In depth, the workshop then looked at what really made an eRider different from any other consultant. It looked at typical eRider ethics and values as well as what skills eRiders needed. It then turned to what an eRider needed to be effective in their job and which of these resources were available to potential eRiders. By way of availing these resources, the International eRiders Community was introduced. At one stage, the workshop then broke into two groups of approximately 10 participants each. Each group looked into a case study on eRiding and starting designing their own eRiding project based on the case study.

When the workshop was concluding, PACT Zambia, Rescue Mission Zambia, eBrain Forum of Zambia, Computers for Zambian Schools and others had shown willing to either start their won network-based eRiding projects or coming together to start an eRiding project in Zambia. This was the birth of the current Zambian NGOs eRiding Project (ZaNeRP) which is being championed by Rescue Mission Zambia but shall be administered by NGOCC.

THE ZAMBIAN NGOs eRIDING PROJECT (ZaNeR PROJECT)

Whereas many organisations showed willingness to set up eRiding projects during the Incubation Workshop of July, 2005 in Lusaka, when it came to conceptualizing the actual projects, many of the organisations were not ready for a variety of reasons. The few organisations and individuals that were ready, with the help of Toni Eliadz of Ungana-Afrika and others, then came up with the ZaNeR Project, which has now gotten support from OSISA who are funding about US $ 53 200 of the project budget for two years. The project aims are:
• To streamline communications and cooperation among non-governmental organizations so as to allow an informed impact on society, which receives services from many sectors of the civil society.
• To improve the multifaceted civil society’s interaction with government; there are many organizations representing civil society when working with the government with little communication among them.
• To provide eRiding services.
• To promote the advantages of Open Source software within the NGO sector in Zambia.
• To assist selected NGOs in switching to Open Source software.
• To raise public awareness of Open Source software usage.

The project is broken down into two phases:
• Phase I shall be from October 2005 to March 2006 and it shall be used for Needs assessment, Project design, eRider selection and Client Selection, eRider training and Project Development, eRiding Movement Strengthening, Promotion and Publicity (Website and Media Strategy) and Equipment Purchasing.
• Phase II shall be from April 2006 to September 2007 and shall be used for eRiding in the Client Organisations, Further training of Project Manager and eRiders, To promote the advantages of Open Source software within the NGO sector in Zambia, To assist selected NGOs in switching to Open Source software, To raise public awareness of Open Source software usage, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Project and Sustainability of eRiding in Zambia.

The eRiding Project of Zambia shall be administered by NGOCC in conjunction with a committee which shall include RMZ and other local NGOs. The project shall be hosted by NGOCC which shall hold and distribute all the funds for the project. However, Rescue Mission Zambia, being a local capacity-building NGO shall provide the Project Manager (an eRider himself) who shall run the project together with the Managing Committee that shall include at least 2 representatives of NGOCC and 2 from other NGOs or members of the OSISA Workshop follow-up Committee Secretariat. One of the 2 representatives of NGOCC shall be the Project Secretary.

During phase I, the Managing Committee, shall invite individuals who have been recommended by their organizations or individuals who are interested and are competent, for interviews and 2 applicants shall be selected as eRiders. The two eRiders should include at least one female.

eRiders shall be selected from young graduates who are willing to undergo training and are also enthusiastic about eRiding. Smart, ICT-savvy, and clearly socially aware, these are natural candidates to be one of the first eRiders. However, young graduates are not the only potential eRiders: if we can find potential eRiders among experienced elderly non-profit workers, who are willing to work within the budget provided, we shall recruit them.

The Managing Committee shall ensure that it solicits broadly – ensuring that all potential clients have an opportunity to participate; thorough and intelligent promotion is important as it increases both the magnitude of applications received and the speed of the selection process. The selection process shall be transparent and somewhat standardized, since the evaluator is part of the managing team. It is important to balance empowerment with transparency. Therefore, the Managing Committee shall also develop a questionnaire and an invitation encouraging non-governmental social organizations to take part in the program. This packet shall be sent to 100 organizations. In selecting the client organizations, the committee shall look at organizations that have many of the following components and characteristics.
• A capable, committed and interested staff
• An engaged and committed leadership
• A basic technology infrastructure
• An open attitude toward the use of ICTs in their activities

Further, the following sector groups shall be formed:
• The Gender and Development Sector;
• The Youth & Children Development Sector;
• The HIV/AIDS and Health Sector;
• The Environment and Education for All Sector; and
• The Human Rights and Political Sector.

Each sector group shall consist of approximately 4 organizations. From about January 2006 to September 2007, each group shall meet at least 8 times, each meeting being at least one day. In addition, the sector groups shall use a mailing list to exchange information regularly and a website and a newsletter (electronic and printed) produced for all the sectors shall distribute information and news about all the sectors. The sector groups shall have a variety of aims and shall be involved in numerous activities.

PROJECT OUTCOMES

Outputs of Phase I
Between October 2005 and March 2006:
• An environmental Survey of non-profits in Zambia to see which ones may benefit best from the project. Selection of clients shall follow.
• Needs Assessment of Short-listed Organisations to design the content of the eRiding support needed.
• An eRiding Movement in Zambia shall be strengthened to ensure local buy-in and future sustainability of eRiding beyond OSISA support.
• 2 eRiders shall be selected by the Managing Team and together with the Project Manager they shall be trained by Ungana-Afrika and also shall undergo other training to ensure better delivery.
• The public shall be more aware of eRiding and its benefit from the promotion work.
• The Zambian team shall have a better understanding of the local area to now apply what they have learnt in implementing Phase II which shall have fewer risks to implement.

Outputs of Phase II
Between April 2006 and September 2007:
• eRiders shall carry out more than 70 consultation sessions with organizations involved in the project. One third of these shall involve technical issues and two thirds will be non-technical.
• A newsletter shall be produced every month to inform the sector of the project and cross sector matters.
• A website shall result to inform the civil society and outside world of this project
• eRiders shall carry out the following in situ training sessions in conjunction with other training organizations like CECS: Internet use, basic computer skills; Application drafting; Selected aspects of management - defining missions and formulating objectives, strategic planning, strategic analysis of organizations (with particular emphasis on SWOT analysis), and strategy formulation; Self-help in Zambia; Information Packaging and Retrieval; Project Management; and Development and Sustainability.
• The sector groups should formulate a detailed map of resources, needs, and problems at the end of the project. They should assemble detailed information on sector service recipients, produce a plan to work better amongst themselves beyond this project and initiate cooperation with other organizations in the sector but not involve in the project and even organizations from outside the sector but relevant to the work of their sector.
• Better communication- This is needed between organizations by using Internet tools such as e-mail, instant messengers, and discussion groups. It is possible for NGOs working on the same issues to be on the same street or be in the same neighbourhood without any knowledge of each other. This underscores the need to implement Internet tools in order to enhance communication between these agencies.
• The advantages of Open Source software within the NGO sector in Zambia shall be promoted.
• NGOs shall be assisted in selection to switch to Open Source software.
• Public awareness of Open Source software usage shall be raised.
• The project plans to set more than 80 e-mail accounts, start more than 3 discussion lists, train 100 people from different organizations in computer basics and spent more than 1 000 hours on consultation.

CONCLUSION

The challenge now is for the Zambian non-governmental, non-profit sector to take advantage of this opportunity presented by OSISA and its partners to improve their capacity and help develop Zambia. For the administrators of the project, it is a challenge to implement this project which is novel to Zambia and so noble without much experience but further the project administrators have to ensure they raise more money from other potential donors to ensure that the original budget of US $ 98 300 is met and sustainability beyond this support is ensured.

For more details about this project contact the Project manager, Mr. Shalala Oliver Sepiso, by writing an email to ssepiso@gmail.com or by visiting the following websites: www.rmz.interconnection.org or www.ngocc.co.zm.